My private driver pulled up to my apartment and opened the door. “Good morning, madam.” he said with a slightly tired voice.

It was 2:00 am and I was anxiously standing on the curb in front of my building after little more than 2 hours sleep.

I was about to embark on a sponsorship that, up until that point, would be the longest and most luxurious I’d ever been on.

“Happy morning to you, too! Thanks so much for coming to pick me up at such an ungodly hour!” I said with real gratitude.

He held the door open to my private car and I slid into the dark, cool space – the leather smooth and luxurious.

The interior was softly lit by a warm light and smelled like a spa – soothing lavender drifted across my nose.

Waiting for me was a cool towel, several bottles of water, and a wifi hub so I could conveniently work online if I chose.

As we wound our way through roads that were only lit by a hazy half moon, I checked my messages, emails, and myself to make sure I was really awake and not dreaming.

I was headed to a private island somewhere in the Indian Ocean somewhere off mainland Malaysia.

My driver pulled up to a private yacht club where a man and woman were waiting at the curb.

He got out and opened my door. I stepped into an already thick humid day and smiled at my small welcoming committee.

“Good morning, Ms. Hernandez. How was your ride over?” the man said with a beautiful Malaysian accent.

“Very nice, thank you for asking.” I answered as I took a cold, wet washcloth from the woman who’d extended it to me.

I gratefully wiped my face and the sweat that had already pooled on it.

“Would you like something to drink, madam?” the woman asked. “We have water, fresh squeezed orange, pineapple, and papaya juices.” she said pointing to each on the tray she was holding out to me. I took the pineapple and thanked her.

“Please follow me to your private waiting area, your yacht isn’t here yet.” The man said, turning and walking toward a glassed walled building behind us.

My heart skipped a beat! Did he just say private yacht?! Had I had a stroke? Where in my negotiations and conversations had they told me that I would be picked up in a private yacht?!

I couldn’t help but smile like a silly school girl…this was, what would prove to be, the first of many surprises in store for me on this sponsorship!

The private waiting area was remarkable…absolutely anything I could have ever wanted was not only at my fingertips, but also included someone who was assigned to get it for me.

I chatted him up a bit and after a little time, he pointed and I could see my ride heading into a slip.

I was gob struck! It was, indeed, a private yacht.

The running lights cast a golden glow on the bow and I could just make out its opulence.

I could see the captain on the bridge, the incandescent light from the controls casting mystery on his face.

I was guided to the dock, instructed to remove my shoes, and then introduced to a crew that were there just for me.

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The head steward showed me around the most luxurious vessel I’d ever seen to that point.

The captain came in, introduced himself (he was a very cute Australian – but that’s another story!) then told me that the staff and he were at my disposal.

He explained that he would be taking me to a spot where I could watch the sun rise.

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He also told me the whole yacht was “just for me”, and that, if I wanted, I could take a nap if I wanted.

As much as I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to sleep in the master cabin which was decked out with every luxury including an amazing tub that I so wanted to soak in, I knew there was no way I was going to go to sleep!

I was here, I had negotiated this amazing experience, I had used my signature system to secure this extraordinary sponsorship. I’d developed the relationships I needed and done the “things” that would allow me to continue to experience luxuries like this any time I wanted.

This was one of many “pinch myself” moments.

I was proud

I was accomplished

This was the tangible outcome to the actions that I’d taken on a unique idea.

The captain joined me at the bow to sip on Mimosas and watch the sun rise. It was an extraordinary experience!

I felt like I was the only person in the world – and, for just a few hours, I was!

6 more days awaited me on the private island and I couldn’t wait to experience it.

As I settled in and the captain headed to the bridge to set sail toward my continued adventure, he turned to me and said, “You do know that Luciano Pavoratti owned a private hill villa on the island, right?”

With awe I squeaked out, “NO!”. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile, I suspected he saved this little tidbit to impress people.

“Yep, he did…and I’m pretty sure they’ve set up a private tour of it for you.” He winked. “He and the owner were very good friends and his villa is kept as a sort of memorial to their friendship. Enjoy!” he said and walked off to get me there.

I heard the engines catch and the anchor rolling into its pocket and ss the last bit of the sun rose over the horizon, the bow turned toward our destination.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh sea air.

An overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride for myself washed over me like a tidal wave.

As I watched other boats and distant islands pass by, my mind drifted to a time, not so long in the past, when I was talking with my then husband and he was telling me my idea didn’t seem possible.

“Why would a business exchange luxury services with just you?” What do you know about marketing? What could you offer them that they couldn’t buy?”

As the yacht I was perched on took me closer to the private island that I would spend 6 days on in the lap of luxury, a satisfying smile crossed my face and my middle finger twitched a little!

Don’t’ tell this girl she can’t do something!

The sun was high in the sky when we pulled up to the private dock on Pangkor Laut Resort and waiting for me at the end of the ramp that lead from the deck to the pier were a slew of people.

“This is what it must be like for the rich and famous every day. I could so get used to this!” The voice in my head screamed.

The Captain and crew said their goodbyes. I slipped on my shoes that were waiting for me at the end of the ramp, and I was given a cold washcloth and drink while my personal guide explained about the island, its owner, and my villa.

My eyes took in all the gloriousness around me. This 5 star resort definitely lived up to all the hype.

I was lead to my accommodations for the week and at first, I thought maybe I had hit my head and was hallucinating! Their sea villa, perched on stilts, at the end of a private pier had been reserved for me!

As I was guided through each room, one more luxurious than the other, I honestly had to blink my eyes to focus.

From the massive king bed, to the glass bottom bathroom with a tub that could fit 5 people that had a glass wall overlooking an endless blue sea, to the sitting room with a bar that had an endless supply of anything I needed, to the deck with a sitting area that afforded me a view of the entire island…I felt like I had literally died and gone to my own private heaven.

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I could hardly drag my excitement and attention to the wonderful man who was explaining my itinerary.

He handed me a schedule, bid his farewell, and left me to explore my huge accommodations on my own.

And, just like in Pretty Woman, I ran and jumped on the massive bed and did a happy dance while giggling like a fool!

As I calmed down, imposter syndrome took me out!

Did I deserve this?

Could I deliver what I promised?

What if they thought I was a fraud?

My breath caught in my throat, my hands went clammy, I could hear my heart in my ears. Oh God, what had I done?!

But, just as fast, the voices of all those people who thought my unique idea was too unobtainable started floating in my head from all directions and I stood up, put my hands on my hips like superwoman, and gave them a healthy FU.

I did deserve this.

I could and would deliver on my promises.

I wasn’t a fraud but a trailblazer!

I picked up my itinerary, noted that I was scheduled for a 4 hour spa service that included a gourmet healthy lunch, and marched my happy ass into the massive bathroom to get ready.

I spent the next 6 days indulging in the opulent world I had created, getting wined and dined, meeting with managers, interviewing staff, having my very own beach dinner including live music, and, yes, getting that private tour of Luciano Pavoratti’s Hill Villa!

And, not only did I deliver, I over delivered and was subsequently invited to the same treatment at 6 of their other properties over the next 4 years!

It’s been that way in every destination I’ve ever chosen to travel to.

From an idea to a way to see the world for free, to a business where I get to help others do the same.

Life is what we make it…that’s a saying for a reason – because it’s true!

Make a decision to do what you want, no matter how “unattainable” it may seem.

Remember, there was a time when people who wanted to fly were told they were mentally unstable!